There are times during our school day when our kids need to share a book and it becomes difficult for them to see what we are studying. I’ve tried to find ways to prop and hold the book up for them, but it’s always been unsuccessful. When I received the StudyPod book holder in the mail to review for the Homeschool Crew, I was ready to use it immediately!

The StudyPod book holder was developed to help students improve their study skills by organizing their study space and keep their hands free to use the computer or take notes. It holds both small and large textbooks and notes and it also has a space inside to store study tools.

Only a few quick steps are necessary to open and begin using the StudyPod since it folds up and stores as the size of a small book {closed it measures 6.75″ x 9″ x 1.33″}. We’re able to store it easily on our shelves along with our books and school materials.

While I can try to explain it, this one minute video clip sums it up so much better than I can:

The StudyPod {$19.95} is available in black, pink and blue and is also sold as the BookPod {for those who aren’t in school} is available in black, grey, and beige. You can purchase one for $19.95 or two for $16.95 each through the StudyPod Bookholder site. And as a bonus for all of you, there is a $5 off coupon code for orders from the website. Just enter the code TOSBLOG5 when you place your order and the $5 will be taken off your total.

I am going to love using this during our school time!

If you’ve been visiting my blog for awhile, you know that I like to fiddle with my blog design and mess around with the html. While I can put together graphics and buttons, the html part of it can be a little tricky.

In all honesty I really don’t know much about the ins and outs of html. I did take some books out from the library all about how to do the whole coding bit and well….they went right back to the library and I just made sure to back up my template whenever I started playing with stuff.

Because I got zilcho, nada, nothing out of all the books. Essentially, what I do know has all been through hit or miss trying, lots of mistakes, but no real instruction.

And if I am asked to explain it to others ~ let’s just say, it’s not something that I’m super comfortable with.

I received a wonderful DVD from Click Drag Solution to review called Web Design for Kids {and Curious Grown-Ups} that does an amazing job of walking your kids {and you…ahem} through some basic web design:

• coding basic html
• adding pictures to your web page
• creating colored letters/fonts
• personalizing your own web background
• making text move across the screen
• and more great tips!

I was the only one that watched the DVD since our kids aren’t familiar enough with the keyboard yet to be able to type the coding in. It will be something that we will use later in the year as their typing skills improve and I know they are going to be excited about it. Because it is a DVD, you can pause as needed to keep up with the instructor and double check your coding.

Working along with the DVD is very easy and requires only a few basic pieces of software: Notepad and Internet Explorer/Firefox ~ both of which come free with Windows. It is recommended for ages 10 and up {possibly younger if your child knows his way around the keyboard} and is almost 90 minutes long. Here’s a little peek at what to expect from the DVD:

The DVD is currently on sale for $19.99 {plus $3.99 s/h} and comes with a money back guarantee. Also, a portion of the DVD profits are distributed between five different charities ~ giving back to children and the community.

Web Design for Kids gives a great basic understanding of html and kids will feel encouraged and motivated quickly since they see the results right away! The websites your child develops are not uploaded anywhere unless you choose to host them somewhere ~ you can just preview what they would look like.

Just as a heads up…after having watched the DVD my mind has been racing and I can in no way guarantee that this blog will look the same much longer. So if you start seeing changes, it’s because I picked up a few tricks from watching and now need to put them to good use!

I DO post reviews and there is a lot of talk in the blogworld about the entire reviewing issue ~ and integrity in blog reviews. SO, while it’s at the front of my mind, I’m laying it all out in front of you, so you know where I am coming from and where I stand on the issue.

• I review products for other companies. Sometimes, those products are a part of the Homeschool Crew from The Old Schoolhouse Magazine and sometimes other companies contact me independently to share about their product. I am NOT paid to review a product. I do receive the actual product {otherwise, I won’t review it} and many times a company will give me an extra to use as a ‘giveaway’ on my blog.
• Reviews for other companies, including those as a part of the Homeschool Crew will always be identified as such.
• I often post reviews about products and items that we personally use as a family and love. This includes toys, books, music, etc… These reviews are just my opinions on random things. Basically, it’s just me blabbing on about something I love – similar to us sitting around a table sharing fun stuff.
• I will ALWAYS {can’t stress this enough} give my honest opinion on a product. I have reviewed some things that our family has absolutely loved and some that we weren’t super-thrilled with. Either way, I am not going to lie about a product, but tell you what I really think about it.
• My site has numerous links to various stores. There is a good chance that some of these are affiliate links. That means if you click on them and purchase something using that link I get a small percentage of the sale. You don’t have to click on them, but you are more than welcome to {and I thank you if you do}.
• If you are interested, I have a full disclosure policy posted on my blog.

Basically, it boils down to this ~ I don’t write to make money from advertising or to receive products for free. I write to share my thoughts and to interact with you {my readers}. That’s it ~ bottom line.

Phew. There it is for you all. Any questions?

I will be the first to admit that drilling our kids in math is one of my weakest areas. Mainly because I dislike drilling, they dislike drilling and then there is general unhappiness all around. Even though our kids do well overall in math, their speed and fact skills could really use a little help…okay…truthfully, a LOT of help.

I was sent a GREAT tool that stopped our kid’s whining and complaining and they are literally begging for more! Barnum Software sent those on the Homeschool Crew the Quarter Mile Math program {Levels 1, 2, & 3} Deluxe program to review and our kids have fallen in love with it.

Quarter Mile Math is geared toward kids from grades K-9 and helps improve mental math skills {and their keyboarding too!}. Kids ‘race’ either a horse or a race car to be the fastest to the finish line. Each correct answer that kids give helps their horse/car gain speed and their scores are shown at the end of the race. During the race, kids compete against their own best races – so they can compare their current score and see how they have done over time {click here for a quick video demo}

Features I love:

• The kids stay on the same problem until they get the answer right.
• The ‘game’ aspect encourages my kids to keep playing and try to do better with each game {my kids are very competitive!}
• Even when the kids get an answer wrong, their horse/car doesn’t stop or slow down {i.e they aren’t penalized}. For a few of my kids this really helps them not to be discouraged!
• The software helps focus on specific skills and we can track their progress – which is great to see.
• Printable topic progress chart so I can keep track of how the kids are doing
• The website offers a special section for homeschooling families with additional resources and support for homeschoolers.

Just in the short time that we have been playing it, Zachary has learned several row of letters/numbers on the keyboard and can identify them very quickly now. He is thrilled that he can play along with this game too! Even though he is in the beginning stages of the program, it’s one that will grow along with him. I even installed it on my laptop so the kids could play during breaks in our school time ~ and playing with Mommy’s laptop is a BIG deal in our house {so you know that Mommy likes it}.

Barnum Software has a topic list that summarizes the range of topics and problems that the math software covers – and there are over 323 of them! Main areas include: Numbers and Letters, Whole Numbers, Fractions, Decimals, Estimation, Percents, Integers, and Equations. The sub-topics include so much more! This is something that our family will be able to use for years to come.

The software is available in either cd-rom format or as a download from their site. If you’d like to give it a try before you buy it, they have a free demo available on their site. Quarter Mile Math has two different user options ~ the Deluxe version and the Standard CD version available to order

~ The Deluxe version requires internet connection, although you do not play online. It is $2.95/month, or $19.95 per family for a year. DSL or cable internet connection is required for this option.

~ The Standard version is actually a cd-rom and is a one time purchase of the software that installs directly to your computer’s hard drive. Depending on the levels chosen, this option ranges in price from $39.95 to $89.95.

The software is Windows {Windows 98, NT, 2000, ME, XP, and Vista} and Mac compatible. See the site for more details on the Mac compatibility. Barnum Software also has a 30 day unconditional money back guarantee.

Overall, I am so excited that we received this to review and am looking forward to using it this year with out kids. And the fact that I’m willing to give up my laptop to let the kids use it ~ well, that just speak volumes about the product! :)

We received this product at no cost in exchange for our honest review. All opinions expressed are solely mine.

Traveling the world for your kids can be as simple as taking a quick walk out to your mailbox with Little Passports. We received the starter kit from the company to review and our kids were THRILLED when the box was opened up and they pulled out a little suitcase filled with goodies.

What to Expect

Little Passports sends a monthly explorer kit addressed to your children so they can follow the global adventures of Sam and Sofia who are able to travel the world using a magical scooter. In the starter suitcase, your children receive a letter from Sam and Sofia introducing themselves, along with a large world map, a passport, some stickers, an activity sheet, and access to some online games and activities.

Each month after, your children will receive a package from Sam and Sofia in the mail filled with souvenirs from the country they are visiting that include: a letter from Sam and Sofia, a passport stamp, crafts, cds, fun projects, a photo from the country, and other appropriate items. The suitcase received in the starter kit is great for storing the country packs that you receive with your subscription.

In the first six months of their travels, Sam and Sofia visit Brazil, Japan, France, Egypt and Australia. They then continue on to China, Mexico, Argentina, Germany, and India.

Subscriptions to Little Passports


Little Passports is recommended for children ages 5-10 and is $10.95 a month {that includes shipping} and you can cancel at any time. Part of the subscription proceeds are donated to SOS Children’s Villages and the Ubuntu Education Fund to help children around the world ~ a great little bonus to your subscription.

If you are looking for a fun way to introduce geography to your kids, be sure to check out Little Passports. It would be a great way to learn more about the world around you ~ from the comfort of your living room.

Until recently I hadn’t heard anything about Hank the Cowdog and came to realize that I’ve apparently been living somewhere way EAST of the cowboy land where Hank resides. Hank is pretty popular in homeschool circles, so I was anxious to see some of products from Maverick Books and find out what our kids thought of Hank.

Hank the Cowdog is Head of Ranch Security on a Texas ranch. He leads a variety of characters {in the truest sense of the word} in many adventures around the property. Hank is the creation of John Erickson, a former cowboy and ranch manager, who loves to tell stories and created the series to share a little of ranch life with families.

We received a pack of products to review, including Hank’s Tales and Tunes cd, the book The Case of the One-Eyed Killer Stud Horse and Hank’s Tornado game ($12.99). Hank’s Tales and Tunes ($3.00) is a compilation cd that introduces many of the characters from the Hank series and is done is a ‘radio drama’ style. There are excerpts from ten various stories as well as nine songs sung by different characters. John Erickson is the voice behind the characters and the cd sound effects are great {running time is 68 minutes}.

In The Case of the One-Eyed Killer Stud Horse ($4.24) Hank discovers that bacon grease does not make a good breakfast, little girls can be a good thing {even if they dress you up}, and putting your life on the line to help someone can be painful but rewarding. The writing style is very laid-back but extremely kid friendly and funny.

The girls and I enjoyed playing the Tornado game together to see who could get their three Hank characters around the board first. It’s great for 2-4 players ages 5+. The game board travels well too, because it folds up and the pieces store inside the board. Hank’s Tornado game also includes a 30 minute cassette tape with excerpts from The Case of the Swirling Killer Tornado.

Overall, the products were great {and we will definitely use and play the game}, but for our family the book and cd are off limits at this point. I popped the cd in for the kids to listen to in the van, but found myself flipping past tracks because of the words and phrases the characters use {stupid, idiot, dumb, what the heck}. After the last phrase was said on the cd, I pulled it out and we had a talk about things that we don’t say – and why. Unfortunately, there are now two little mouths walking around the house and saying ‘What the heck?’ quite a bit, so we are having to handle that.

If your child is a little older and might not be as…impressionable as our younger ones, you might want to check out your local library for some of the Hank books and take advantage of the Hank’s Tales and Tunes cd to hear the songs and stories for yourself. You can also read more about Hank the Cowdog and explore his ranch too!